Analysis of real life 109E performance for CloD

[Crumpp]

Guys,

Airplanes also work as any other machine. They require break in periods, have an area where their performance will peak, and they lose performance if the engine/airframe is abused or aged.

Military aircraft in war are consistently abused. They operate from rough fields, suffer weather, and often poor piloting from inexperienced pilots.
The environment plays a huge role on their performance. Is that data corrected to standard? ALL OF IT? The engine is data is adjusted for a standard day while the engine is adjusted by a mechanic on the day he picks up the wrench. That means in some engines, depending on the design, you will not develop the calibrated manifold pressure/rpm depending on density altitude while others will meet or exceed that by a small percentage.

Airplanes also require an extraordinary amount of maintenance. Much of that maintenance is specialized specific knowledge to that design. That is why by convention, the manufacturer publishes a maintenance manual on every component and subcomponent as well a consolidated type specific instructions. These instructions are extremely detailed and specify exactly what the mechanic or maintenance personnel can do. The "How to" is compulsory and part of the airworthiness instructions of the aircraft. The "When to" is more flexible and up to the operator's as well maintenance personnel.

For example, a 10 hours service on break in requires you to change the mineral oil in the engine and examine the filter to ensure the engine is making the appropriate amount of metal as the parts settle in.

Most of the engines during WWII used what is today termed an "oil screen" not an oil filter. They called it a filter but don't confuse it with the spin off type found in your car. There are some important differences in reality that have no bearing on a game.

Each engine is a little different by on average you are going to change the oil at least twice and examine the filter during break in. When the rings seat and the amount of metal being made levels out you can tell because the oil consumption will stabilize. Then you can generally change to an ashless dispersant oil for normal use.

You don't have to the "10 hour" maintenance at exactly 10 hours. You can fit it in as operational demands require. You do have follow the "how to" instructions exactly to the letter when you decide to do it.

If you don't all of the required and specified maintenance instructions including the specific lubricants and fuels, it will generally not work properly.

For example, it is very easy to damage a propeller just lubricating it. When it starts spitting grease, it becomes unbalanced and further damage occurs. All of this effects the power the engine can produce and the performance one will get.